howard



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. L. 8: G. P. HOWARD.

WATER CLOSET.

Patented Aug. 28, 1888.

m 8% 5, NW WV W /fl H y a u w W J w a A a U wv PETERS. Phulo-Limngmphor. Washmgton. n. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. L. & G. P. HOWARD.

WATER CLOSET.

No. 284,016. Patented Aug. 28,1883.

N. PETERS. Pmxo-umu ber. Walhhngiun. D.c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES L. HOWVARD AND CHARLES HOWARD, OF HARTFORD, CONN.

WATE'R-CLOS ET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 284,016, dated August 28, 1883.

Application filed April 7, 1883. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JAMES L. HOWARD and CHARLES P. HOWARD, both of Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in W'ater-Olosets; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, whereby a person skilled in the art can make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Like letters in the figures indicate the same parts.

Figure 1 is a vie in side elevation of our improved water-closet as adapted to a railway-car, with parts in section, and showing the position of the operating mechanismwhen the seat-lid is open. Fig. 2 is a similar view in elevation, showing the position of the parts when the seat is closed. Fig. 3 isa front view of the same with parts in section, showing the seat-lid and operating parts in the same rela- 1 tive position as in Fig. 1. Fig. 4:- is a plan view of the bowl and discharge-chamber of the closet, the seat and parts above being removed. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the discharge-chamber, with its top plate and parts above it removed.

Our invention relates particularly to the class of water-closets designecbfor use in rail way-cars and the like. The few water-closets at presentin use on cars or in similarlyexposcd positions operate like those in use in dwelling-houses, in which the pan always stands full of water. In cold weather the closets often give serious trouble by the freezing of the water, and they are open to the further objection of requiring a large quantity of water to be of efficient service. These faults have heretofore made the water-closet almost impracticable foruse upon railway-cars and the like.

The object of our invention is to obviate all these difficulties and to produce a watercloset for drawing-room, sleeping, and other railway cars and the like which shall be antifreezing and economical in its use of water.

Our invention consists in a water-closet so constructed that the pan is always empty, ex-

cept when the closet is ready for use or in use, the water being preferably contained in a tank situated in the upper part of the car, (in the form herein shown and described,) where it is surrounded by the warm air of the ear and in no danger of freezing.

Our invention also consists of certain novel and useful combinations of parts, all of which are hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter a denotes a discharge-chamber, preferably of cast metal, adapted to be secured to the floor by means of the flange a, provided with a cover-plate, b, perforated to connect withthe ventilator c, and for the reception of the bowl (I, of ordinary shape and material, resting upon and secured to the cover of the chamber by means of flange d and bolts or similar device. Over the bowl is arranged the seat 6 in any ordinary manner, bearing the lid f, hinged to the seat. Fast to the lid is the arm f, pivoted to connecting-rod g, which in turn is pivoted to the arm h, fast to the pan h, pivoted within the chamber, and hanging in a substantially vertical position in its normal position, as when the lid f is closed. The stud 71. upon the arm h projects into and operates in the slot j in one arm of the lever i, pivoted to a fixed portion of the device, asto the outside of the chamber, and the other arm, 7c, is pivotally connected with the rod Z, which is in turn pivotally connected with valves on and n on each side of the scrvicemeasure o.

The letter 1) denotes the water-tank, which carries the supply of water for use in the closet, and ispreferably arranged above the closet p, the leader-pipe, through which water is conveyed to the bowl and pan, and having at any convenient part of its length, as shown, the service-measure 0, which gages the amount of water which is discharged into the bowl and pan each time the lid is raised. The valves m and a, as here shown, are ordinary stop-cocks, so connected to the rod Z that when one, as n, 5 is opened the other, m, is shut, and when this is the case the water flows freely into the service chamber from the tank. .lVhcn the rod Z is raised, asby lifting the cover, the valve on is opened and valve a closed, so that only the -IO0 from the interior of the discharge-chamber to 1 a point above the roof of the car or structure, and, to further ventilate the closet, connects by means of branch tube with the interior of the bowl at a point near its upper edge. If desired, the lower surface of the lid may be provided with rubber or other suitable packing to prevent the escape of gas when the lid is closed upon the seat. Upon the lowersurface of the cover of the discharge-chamber, and between it and the upper edge of the pan, an annular packing, h, of rubber or other suitable material, is provided to prevent the waste of water when the pan is raised and filled.

The letter 8 denotes a steam-pipe, a turn of which surrounds the pan within the chamber, and by means of which any possible formation 1 of ice on the pan and on the interior of the discharge-chamber is prevented while the pan is temporarily filled for use.

The operation of our device is as follows: When the parts are in the normal position, as shown in Fig. 2, the raising of the lid, in order to give access to the bowl and closet, raises the pan into the position shown in Fig. 1 and operates valves upon each side of the servicemeasure in the delivery-pipe in such way as to discharge into the bowl and pan, as through thepipep, only a measured quantity of water, as hereinbefore described. After use, the closingof the lid,-which may be done automatically, as by means of a spring placed back of the lid, assisted by the weight of the swinging pan and; its contents through the medium of the connected levers, or by the person who has .used the closet, discharges the contents of the pan through the discharge-chamber and floor upon the roadway below the car and refills the service-measure.

When constructed and arranged as above described, our improved closet is especially adapted for use in a railway-car, as the parts are especially arranged to avoid derangement,

wear, or rattling by the hard usage to which they are exposed, and it will be seen that the parts exposed to the action of the cold are entirely clear of water, except at the short intervals when in actual use, and there is little or no danger of its 'ever freezing, even in the coldest weather. At such times the admission of steam'into the pipe surrounding the pan will obviate even that remote difficulty.

It is obvious that the service-measure, instead of being arranged and constructed as herein described and shown, might readily be constructed on the plan of the tank and service-box in common use, in connection with house water closets, where the service-box forms part of the tank, and the valves admitting water from the tank into the service-box and from the service-box into the pipe leading from the closet are actuated by a lever placed above the cistern and connected with the mech anism of the closet by a chain or rod.

We claim as our invention- 1. In a water-closet, in combination, the bowl d, the swinging service-pan h, empty in its normal position, and means whereby said pan is filled with water when temporarily in position for using the closet, all substantially as described.

2. In a water closet, in combination, the swinging service-pan h, pivotally connected with the valves m n of the water-service measure 0, and with the lid f, means for supplying water to the pan, and the lid f, by the opening of which the pan is temporarily swung.

into position and filled for use, all substantially as described.

3. In combination, the chamber a, bearing bowl d, having ventilating-pipesc and 0 and swinging pan h, empty in its normal position, and the means for supplying water to the pan, all substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

4. In combination, the chamber a, bowl d, swinging pan h, and steam-pipe s, surrounding'the pan, all substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

JAMES L. HOWARD. CHARLES P. HOWARD.

Witnesses:

FRANK L. HOWARD, GEORGE O. BARNES. 

